First, the really big news. A couple of years in the making, I’m very happy (and quite a bit nervous and scared and hopeful) to share an announcement from the (also new) North Carolina Speculative Fiction Foundation which launches the Manly Wade Wellman Award, celebrating the year’s best science fiction and fantasy novels written by North Carolina authors. Much more including the first preliminary eligibility list over at the NCSFF. It’s been a lot of work and (extra) late hours to get to this point, and there’s much more to do. But for now, it’s here, and coming in 2014.

Second, a swath of “writer’s markets” and other news to pass along that have been slowly accumulating:

Unlikely Story is currently reading stories for “A Journal of Unlikely Cartography”. See their submissions page for details.

Christie Yant is guest editing a special issue of Lightspeed Magazine, and has issued a special call for submissions for this “Women Destroy Science Fiction!” issue.

Resurrection House issued a call for stories as well for a themed “XIII” anthology.

The Piedmont The Piedmont Laureate program is still accepting applications from writers of short fiction to serve as the 2014 Piedmont Laureate. Entrants are not required to have published a book of short fiction stories – published stand-alone stories will suffice. Authors must be residents of Wake, Alamance, Durham or Orange counties. The selected Piedmont Laureate will serve from March 1 to December 31, 2014. Laureate activities include presenting readings and workshops, encouraging creative writing and promoting literature at public events. Typical appearances last between twenty minutes and one hour. The honorarium is $6,500 and the deadline is January 9, 2014.

Third, 2014 is just around the corner. While I’m working hard on the 2014 book preview, a quick reminder that illogiCon is January 10-12, and Carrie Vaughn will be at Quail Ridge Books on Friday the 17th. As always check out the newsletter for the most up-to-date event listings.

Lastly, this post will host a last-minute local author holiday bookstore. Get these last-minute holiday gifts hand delivered in the Triangle area this weekend, free, no minimum order. Place your orders here by Sunday morning so I can plan my route; if you’re in Garner, please do it today as I’m heading that way on Friday. Note: the links go off to IndieBound to make finding out more about the books and ordering from your local bookstores easier; I’m not delivering those! Total up what you want and Paypal to paypal@bullspec.com with your order. Delivery is free! Email sam@bullspec.com with any questions about delivery distance, payment, or availability.

3 Responses to (Early) Friday Quick Updates: The Manly Wade Wellman Award; some writing market and other links; and a special last-minute local author holiday bookstore

Very excited to see the Women Destroy Science Fiction submission opportunity. Don’t know if you might want to mention that C.C. Finlay is doing a special submission opportunity for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Submission period will open in January and only be open for two weeks. It’s a one time, special event in which F&SF will be accepting Electronic Subs. Here’s a link:http://ccfinlay.com/blog/guest-editing-fsf.html

Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - 7:00pm -- Chapel Hill's Flyleaf Books hosts John Darnielle for the paperback release of his latest novel Universal Harvester. "Life in a small town takes a dark turn when mysterious footage begins appearing on VHS cassettes at the local Video Hut."

Thursday, February 15, 2018 - 7:00pm -- Raleigh's Quail Ridge Books hosts John Kessel for his new novel Pride and Prometheus. "Pride and Prejudice meets Frankenstein in this NCSU English professor’s literary mash-up of the classics as Mary Bennet falls for Victor Frankenstein and befriends his monstrous creature."